JOHOR BAHRU – In Malaysia, the recent Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) has made it possible to travel between Singapore and Malaysia.
Many families were separated by travel restrictions across countries due to the pandemic. As the endemic approaches, international borders have reopened and the long-awaited reunion is in place.
Homesick, Choong Kai Yee, 33, and her siblings took this opportunity to finally go home. She then decided to give her parents a surprise of a lifetime.
When contacted, Kai Yee told us at WeirdKaya that three siblings have worked for an agency in Singapore for many years.
Her sister, Kai Le, 24, has worked there for 5 years while her brother Alex for 8 years.
As for Kai Yee herself, she is married to a Singaporean and has gotten her PR after working for 12 years in Singapore.
This time, all three siblings will finally be home for a week after two whole years of being apart from their parents.
“We’ve been thinking about going home for a long time,” said Kai Yee.
The detailed planning
The plan to surprise their parents came spontaneously when Kai Yee’s eldest sister told her about a delicious buffet in Holiday Inn Johor Bahru.
“My sister brought her workers there and wished to bring the whole family there when we’re home. Then, I thought, why don’t we surprise our parents there?”
They then approached the hotel management to ask about the possibility of impersonating as the restaurant’s service staff where their parents had dinner reservations.
Fortunately, Holiday Inn JB’s management agreed to help them with their scheme.
As the siblings planned their trip back, they informed their parents they will only be home for Chinese New Year.
The plan in motion
On the afternoon of 6th December, the trio arrived in Malaysia. Their first stop was to Kai Yee’s sister’s shop, Lervain Aesthetics for a manicure.
Later, they headed to Holiday Inn JB for final preparations of their plan. The eldest sister had even arranged for them to dress in the hotel’s waiting uniforms!
They quickly got changed before getting to ‘work’. The siblings acted like the hotel staff members as they tried to serve their parents in the buffet.
Alex was the first to enter the scene, dressed as the chef. He pretended to help his father to get the dishes. He even purposely spoke in English to throw his father off!
However, sharp on his senses, the father repeatedly insisted that some of the waiting staff looked like his children.
“This guy looks like Ah boy (Alex).”
The father’s suspicion grew when he saw Kai Le.
“She even sounds like Kai Le!”
It was then the siblings revealed themselves as they took off their masks. Needless to say, their parents were overjoyed and they went to hug their children.
Not gonna lie, we also shed a tear or two at the family’s reunion.
Overwhelming Response
The heart-warming post has garnered 19k reactions, 1.2k comments and 7.7k shares.
“My parents have five children, and they have been fair to all of us. We can feel the same amount of love, and we love them too.”
“We’re glad to be back to our dear family. Finally, we are reunited safely, with our parents in healthy condition,” wrote Kai Yee.
You can watch the video here.
Many netizens expressed that they were deeply moved by the close relationship of the family in the video.
Special thanks to Choong Kai Yee for letting us share this story.
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Cover image via FB/ Choong Kai Yee
Editor: Grace Choong
